March Madness...

It all started February 27th.  We met with Julia, the nurse, that day.  She taught us all about our big box of meds.  It was overwhelming.  But at the same time, not one of the shots has to be assembled to the extent that the ones we were doing with IUI had to be.  We have to mix meds and change needles, eventually, but in an easier way.

She sent us home with a calendar.  We started shots on February 29th.  So far it's going really well. 

The first 10 days of shots work to suppress my brain so when the stimulation meds starts they, the doctor and company, can control everything. 

On March 6th I take the last birth control pill (& I can't wait, I really do not like that stuff).

On March 9th we go back to Bozeman for a 10am baseline ultra sound.  On the 10th we start stimulation meds.  This means we continue the morning shot we are doing now (at a lower dosage) and add 2 shots in the evening. 

Either March 14th or 15th they will start monitoring me either daily or every other day in Bozeman.  Monitoring consists of ultra sound and blood work.  The lady in Bozeman who does the blood draws and I do not have the best relationship...she has a lot of trouble with my veins...so it should get interesting!

Now for the big dates:

March 19th is the possible date for a mega shot, we're talking big, giant, scary and painful!  But, as with the others, we'll do it!  

Possible retrieval date is March 21 in Billings.  This is considered a minor surgery for me. Once fertilization happens the embryologist will be in contact with us daily to discuss development of the embryos.  They will determine when transfer should take place. 

Possible transfer dates are the 24th for a day 3 transfer or the 26th for a day 5 transfer.  The doctor said for us we will hope for a day 5 transfer.

This is the mumbo jumbo of it all.  If you're confused, so are we!  We just look at the calendar a lot, and plan for these 10-12 days to be devoted to helping make this a success.